To determine the psychosocial factors associated with depressive symptoms among Japanese adolescents in Okinawa, we conducted self-administered anonymous questionnaires using samples or 3,202 students or 12 public senior high schools in 1997 and 2,660 students of 13 public junior high schools in 1998. We measured depressive symptomatology using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The psychosocial factors examined were life stressors in different domains, perceived social support, health practices, self-esteem, and locus of control. The relationships between the, psychosocial factors and depressive, symptoms were examined using hierarchical multiple regression analyses.As for senior high students, after controlling for the effects of demographic and other psychosocial variables, presence of depressive symptoms was positively associated with life stressors in the domains of friends, family, and teachers. Similarly, persistence of depressive symptoms was also po
… Moresitively associated with life stressors in the domains of friends and teachers. Presence and persistence of depressive symptoms were negatively associated with positive health practices, more social supports, high self-esteem, and internal locus of control.As for junior high students, life stressors in the domains of study, family, and friends were also significant correlates or increased depressive symptoms for males. For females, life, stressors in the domains or study, teachers, family, and friends were, also significant correlates of increased depressive symptoms. Other psychosocial variables such as positive health practices, more social supports, high self-esteem, and internal locus of control were related to lower level of depressive symptoms in the two genders.In conclusion, for depressive symptoms or Japanese adolescents, life stressors might be risk factors, but positive health practices, perceived social support, high self-esteem, and internal locus of control might be protective factors. It was also suggested that the psychosocial factors associated with presence and persistence or depressive symptoms were remarkably consistent. Less